Interesting stat: New construction accounts for 53 percent of architects’ revenue nationwide and 47 percent is generated from renovations, additions, historic preservation and rehabilitations, according to the American Institute of Architects.

He was a 20-year-old married college student who needed a job in the midst of an economic downturn. So when one of Mark Candelaria’s professors informed him of a job opening at his architectural firm, it was an offer he couldn’t turn down.

“He asked how much I’d like to make,” recalled Candelaria, owner and founder of Phoenix-based Candelaria Designs, of that conversation in 1982. “I said, ‘I just need a job. Pay me what you want.’ ”

For $5.25 an hour, Candelaria left the classroom and entered the drawing room for noted architect and Arizona State University professor George W. Christensen.

More than 30 years later, Candelaria heads a firm that serves dozens of clients at any given time and designs plans for luxury homes across the country, some of which are upwards of 56,000 square feet.

Candelaria’s success, however, isn’t a result of just his talent for drawing and turning homeowners’ imaginations into something tangible. The Colorado native believes his time in the office dealing with clients at an early age under Christensen was a crucial component.

“He taught me how to lead a client into a good design solution but also to listen to them,” Candelaria said. “It’s really about their dream. Some (architects) don’t embrace what the client wants to achieve.”

As a result, personal interaction with his clients and treating them as individuals with real lives instead of invoice numbers has been part of Candelaria’s career since day one. And as a business owner who has hired young talent since launching his own firm in 1999, Candelaria passes that on to every architect who walks through his doors. It’s a valuable lesson that he said is not part of the academic curricula. Candelaria called mentoring the best part of his profession.

“Here’s a problem, we need a design to fix it, but there really isn’t interplay between the project and a client because the client doesn’t exist. That’s how an architect is taught,” Candelaria explained. “But once you have a real person, you’re dealing with their emotions and all that’s going on in their lives. ... There’s a lot more to what we do than, ‘Here’s what we need. Go draw it.’ ”

An annual trip to Italy with clients proves he knows how to mix a bit of pleasure into business.

In 2000, a client wanted Candelaria to design a Tuscan-style home and suggested they do research at the source. That trip turned into a tradition that this summer drew a group of 18. Tuscan designs have become one of Candelaria’s fortes.

This is one example of how Candelaria tries to make what could be a stressful process enjoyable for homeowners.

“I don’t want it to be like going to the dentist or tax guy,” he said. “People come to us to make their dream home. We want to make this the most fun experience they’ve had.”

When Scottsdale homeowner Lisa Wysel wanted a Tuscan-style home, she called Candelaria on the advice of her builder. She raved about how Candelaria was a pleasure to work with, from the first meeting — where he sketched her descriptions upside down so she could see it right-side up while sitting across from him — to the finished product.

“He’s just a fun guy to be around. He celebrates with you,” Wysel said.

Seven years later, Wysel is planning a move to Santa Barbara, Calif., and has hired Candelaria to design that home. She wanted her 7,500-square foot Scottsdale home to feel homey and cozy without large vacant rooms. And that’s what she got.

“He gets that. Everyone says it’s such a welcoming place,” Wysel said. “It’s not an easy thing to do, to take the desires of a person and put it into a home where people can see exactly what you wanted it to be.”

Nancy Hanley has hired Candelaria to design two homes over the last eight years. She admires how Candelaria is able to accomplish with a 30-second sketch what would typically require a 30-minute discussion.

The Paradise Valley homeowner said she immediately felt comfortable communicating with Candelaria, who designed her house so that every room captures a special view, even if it’s through slivers in a window.

“He respects his clients. Mark listens, and it’s such a blessing to be able to work (with someone) like that,” Hanley said.

Raised in Denver and Durango, Candelaria craved an architectural career since he started drawing buildings at age 4. His mother would take him to model homes, and Candelaria took the brochures and learned to draw floor plans. He took art and drafting classes in school and moved to Arizona to attend ASU. His position with Christensen’s CCBG Architects took him out of school. He became a partner in 1987, heading the firm’s residential branch.

After 18 years, Christensen retired. Candelaria decided to go out on his own. Out of loyalty, he didn’t take any clients with him and started working out of his condo from scratch. In six months, Candelaria was swamped. He moved into an office and soon landed a couple of big jobs. It snowballed from there.

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